text:
|By Business Wire||
|January 3, 2013 11:30 AM EST||
Anametrix co-founder and Chairman of the Board Blaise Barrelet today announces Pelin Thorogood will succeed him as CEO of the first cloud-based, real-time digital analytics platform and will join the company’s board. Effective immediately, Thorogood, a 20-year veteran marketing and analytics strategist and Anametrix CMO, will lead the company’s growth as it extends its platform to help Global 2000 marketers use analytics to improve return on marketing investment (ROMI).
- Following the October Series A funding by growth equity firm TVC Capital, Anametrix is in an accelerated growth phase. Thorogood will direct the company’s strategy, expand the team to meet rapidly growing customer needs and introduce groundbreaking platform innovations – ranging from social collaboration and mobile analytics to predictive analytics.
- Anametrix is built by marketers for marketers, and Thorogood’s promotion from CMO to CEO and director demonstrates the company’s commitment to serving the real-world, real-time analytics needs of multichannel marketers. The platform offers sophisticated analytics to marketers, enabling them to improve campaign performance, increase customer lifetime value (CLV) and uncover new sources of revenue.
- Customer demand to leverage analytics to demonstrate ROMI is increasing rapidly. In the past quarter Anametrix has substantially expanded contracts within its Fortune 100 client base and added several new customers, including Condé Nast, EvoFem and Yellow Pages Canada. The company has also opened regional offices to better serve customers in Atlanta and San Francisco.
- To accommodate new hires across all departments, including an expanding team of data scientists, Anametrix will move its corporate headquarters this month to 5414 Oberlin Dr., Ste. 250, San Diego, Calif., more than doubling its current square footage.
- In addition to her new roles at Anametrix, Thorogood will retain her positions on the boards of Online Marketing Institute and Technology Leaders, and she will continue to serve as Executive-in-Residence for her alma mater, the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.
- Both in 2011 and 2012 Thorogood was named one of the “20 Women to Watch” by the Sales Lead Management Association and is a regular speaker and author on marketing analytics, social marketing and related topics, most recently at eMetrics, Digital Analytics Association (DAA), Online Marketing Institute, Sales 2.0 Conference, Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference, Content Marketing Institute, destinationCRM and Cornell Enterprise.
- Blaise Barrelet, Anametrix co-founder, will continue to assist in his capacity as chairman of the board. He also will be exploring opportunities to extend the Anametrix analytics platform to new markets through his investment firm Analytics Ventures.
Blaise Barrelet, co-founder and CEO of Anametrix
“Pelin is the dream CEO for our three-year-old company. She is a proven business leader, expert and innovator in digital analytics. Her first-hand knowledge in multichannel marketing will contribute to Anametrix’s accelerated growth as we help our customers predict and improve their revenue growth by transforming their marketing effectiveness.”
Steve Hamerslag, TVC Capital’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner
“As the lead investor in Anametrix’s Series A round, TVC Capital immediately recognized what a superstar we had in Pelin Thorogood. We are in the marketing-analytics business, and Pelin is one of a handful of true experts in the world. Few people have her depth of knowledge and experience combined with the leadership skills it takes to be a great CEO. Her appointment is a big win for our company and customers. Moreover, it allows Anametrix’s chairman to continue championing the company as he pursues his passion for cultivating a San Diego ecosystem where analytics innovators can thrive.”
Pelin Thorogood, CEO of Anametrix
“Both Anametrix and the digital analytics industry are at a tipping point of accelerated growth, and I’m honored to be the company’s new CEO during this pivotal time. Building on our Chairman Blaise Barrelet’s legacy in the analytics sector, I pledge to execute with rigor on innovation, performance, quality and creativity in every area of our business. In the near term our team will introduce product innovations in predictive analytics and social collaboration and enhancements to our mobile analytics capabilities. We will also expand upon our customer support program to enable current and future customers to achieve returns on marketing investment they never thought possible.”
Anametrix transforms marketing with digital analytics. We collect, analyze, and make sense out of data across all marketing channels in real time to enable marketers to discover new truths about customers, prospects, and the market at large. Anametrix delivers 360-degree visibility into business data to uncover new trends and hidden correlations, explore new relationships, and deliver a bigger and more predictable impact on revenue. Founded in 2010 by the trailblazing web analytics team behind WebSideStory, Anametrix has headquarters in San Diego, Calif. For more information, visit www.anametrix.com, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and our blog.
Anametrix is a trademark of Anametrix. Other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
SYS-CON Events announced today the Kubernetes and Google Container Engine Workshop, being held November 3, 2016, in conjunction with @DevOpsSummit at 19th Cloud Expo at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. This workshop led by Sebastian Scheele introduces participants to Kubernetes and Google Container Engine (GKE). Through a combination of instructor-led presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on labs, students learn the key concepts and practices for deploying and maintainin...
Sep. 29, 2016 06:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,747
Your business relies on your applications and your employees to stay in business. Whether you develop apps or manage business critical apps that help fuel your business, what happens when users experience sluggish performance? You and all technical teams across the organization – application, network, operations, among others, as well as, those outside the organization, like ISPs and third-party providers – are called in to solve the problem.
Sep. 29, 2016 06:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,664
SYS-CON Events announced today that Niagara Networks will exhibit at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Niagara Networks offers the highest port-density systems, and the most complete Next-Generation Network Visibility systems including Network Packet Brokers, Bypass Switches, and Network TAPs.
Sep. 29, 2016 06:00 AM EDT Reads: 516
Without a clear strategy for cost control and an architecture designed with cloud services in mind, costs and operational performance can quickly get out of control. To avoid multiple architectural redesigns requires extensive thought and planning. Boundary (now part of BMC) launched a new public-facing multi-tenant high resolution monitoring service on Amazon AWS two years ago, facing challenges and learning best practices in the early days of the new service. In his session at 19th Cloud Exp...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,046
SYS-CON Events announced today that Roundee / LinearHub will exhibit at the WebRTC Summit at @ThingsExpo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. LinearHub provides Roundee Service, a smart platform for enterprise video conferencing with enhanced features such as automatic recording and transcription service. Slack users can integrate Roundee to their team via Slack’s App Directory, and '/roundee' command lets your video conference ...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,500
Using new techniques of information modeling, indexing, and processing, new cloud-based systems can support cloud-based workloads previously not possible for high-throughput insurance, banking, and case-based applications. In his session at 18th Cloud Expo, John Newton, CTO, Founder and Chairman of Alfresco, described how to scale cloud-based content management repositories to store, manage, and retrieve billions of documents and related information with fast and linear scalability. He addres...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,946
Digital transformation is too big and important for our future success to not understand the rules that apply to it. The first three rules for winning in this age of hyper-digital transformation are: Advantages in speed, analytics and operational tempos must be captured by implementing an optimized information logistics system (OILS) Real-time operational tempos (IT, people and business processes) must be achieved Businesses that can "analyze data and act and with speed" will dominate those t...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:15 AM EDT Reads: 1,242
IoT is fundamentally transforming the auto industry, turning the vehicle into a hub for connected services, including safety, infotainment and usage-based insurance. Auto manufacturers – and businesses across all verticals – have built an entire ecosystem around the Connected Car, creating new customer touch points and revenue streams. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Macario Namie, Head of IoT Strategy at Cisco Jasper, will share real-world examples of how IoT transforms the car from a static p...
Sep. 29, 2016 05:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,634
While DevOps promises a better and tighter integration among an organization’s development and operation teams and transforms an application life cycle into a continual deployment, Chef and Azure together provides a speedy, cost-effective and highly scalable vehicle for realizing the business values of this transformation. In his session at @DevOpsSummit at 19th Cloud Expo, Yung Chou, a Technology Evangelist at Microsoft, will present a unique opportunity to witness how Chef and Azure work tog...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,797
Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, is co-located with the 19th International Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world and ThingsExpo Silicon Valley Call for Papers is now open.
Sep. 29, 2016 04:30 AM EDT Reads: 4,678
Almost two-thirds of companies either have or soon will have IoT as the backbone of their business in 2016. However, IoT is far more complex than most firms expected. How can you not get trapped in the pitfalls? In his session at @ThingsExpo, Tony Shan, a renowned visionary and thought leader, will introduce a holistic method of IoTification, which is the process of IoTifying the existing technology and business models to adopt and leverage IoT. He will drill down to the components in this fra...
Sep. 29, 2016 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,813
The Transparent Cloud-computing Consortium (abbreviation: T-Cloud Consortium) will conduct research activities into changes in the computing model as a result of collaboration between "device" and "cloud" and the creation of new value and markets through organic data processing High speed and high quality networks, and dramatic improvements in computer processing capabilities, have greatly changed the nature of applications and made the storing and processing of data on the network commonplace.
Sep. 29, 2016 04:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,211
We’ve been doing it for years, decades for some. How many websites have you created accounts on? Your bank, your credit card companies, social media sites, hotels and travel sites, online shopping sites, and that’s just the start. We do it often without even thinking about it, quickly entering our personal information, our data, in a plethora of systems. Sometimes we’re not even aware of the information we are providing. It could be very personal information (think of the security questions you ...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:45 AM EDT Reads: 4,823
I'm a lonely sensor. I spend all day telling the world how I'm feeling, but none of the other sensors seem to care. I want to be connected. I want to build relationships with other sensors to be more useful for my human. I want my human to understand that when my friends next door are too hot for a while, I'll soon be flaming. And when all my friends go outside without me, I may be left behind. Don't just log my data; use the relationship graph. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Ryan Boyd, Engi...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,377
SYS-CON Events announced today that ReadyTalk, a leading provider of online conferencing and webinar services, has been named Vendor Presentation Sponsor at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. ReadyTalk delivers audio and web conferencing services that inspire collaboration and enable the Future of Work for today’s increasingly digital and mobile workforce. By combining intuitive, innovative tec...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:30 AM EDT Reads: 3,033
IoT offers a value of almost $4 trillion to the manufacturing industry through platforms that can improve margins, optimize operations & drive high performance work teams. By using IoT technologies as a foundation, manufacturing customers are integrating worker safety with manufacturing systems, driving deep collaboration and utilizing analytics to exponentially increased per-unit margins. However, as Benoit Lheureux, the VP for Research at Gartner points out, “IoT project implementers often ...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:15 AM EDT Reads: 3,578
SYS-CON Events announced today that Pulzze Systems will exhibit at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Pulzze Systems, Inc. provides infrastructure products for the Internet of Things to enable any connected device and system to carry out matched operations without programming. For more information, visit http://www.pulzzesystems.com.
Sep. 29, 2016 03:15 AM EDT Reads: 1,906
There is growing need for data-driven applications and the need for digital platforms to build these apps. In his session at 19th Cloud Expo, Muddu Sudhakar, VP and GM of Security & IoT at Splunk, will cover different PaaS solutions and Big Data platforms that are available to build applications. In addition, AI and machine learning are creating new requirements that developers need in the building of next-gen apps. The next-generation digital platforms have some of the past platform needs a...
Sep. 29, 2016 03:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,880
If you’re responsible for an application that depends on the data or functionality of various IoT endpoints – either sensors or devices – your brand reputation depends on the security, reliability, and compliance of its many integrated parts. If your application fails to deliver the expected business results, your customers and partners won't care if that failure stems from the code you developed or from a component that you integrated. What can you do to ensure that the endpoints work as expect...
Sep. 29, 2016 02:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,718
Is your aging software platform suffering from technical debt while the market changes and demands new solutions at a faster clip? It’s a bold move, but you might consider walking away from your core platform and starting fresh. ReadyTalk did exactly that. In his General Session at 19th Cloud Expo, Michael Chambliss, Head of Engineering at ReadyTalk, will discuss why and how ReadyTalk diverted from healthy revenue and over a decade of audio conferencing product development to start an innovati...
Sep. 29, 2016 02:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,178


text:
Rhode Island regulators are reviewing the finances of the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center, a medical cannabis dispensary that just launched adult-use sales in December.
A check for $500,000 to renew the retailer’s license bounced twice in January, according to Providence TV station WPRI.
In addition, multiple cultivators in the state say Slater owes them a total of roughly $500,000, according to a tally by WPRI.
Because Rhode Island regulations say cultivators must be paid within 30 days, regulators are now investing the issue.
A Slater spokesperson told WPRI that the bounced check was issued from the wrong account.
The spokesperson also said the company is not having challenges with cash flow but did not explain the late payments to growers.
Slater reported $12 million in sales in the first five months of recreational cannabis sales.
Since Rhode Island launched adult-use sales in MMJ dispensaries last December, cultivators have asked the state to open more retail stores amid an oversupply of product.
Those stores could open in 2024.
Slater opened in Providence in 2013, becoming the first dispensary to serve the Rhode Island medical cannabis market.

domain: news


text:
Leaks about Samsung and its Marshmallow update plans are flying thick and fast. Earlier in the day, an unconfirmed report out of Vietnam seemed to indicate that the South Korean consumer electronics giant already has a Marshmallow update timeline in place, whereby as many as twelve of its devices will get to taste Marshmallow in the first quarter of next year, while at least another four will receive the update in the second quarter. There have also been numerous reports floating around, which seems to claim that official Marshmallow ROMs for many of the company's other premium Android devices are also currently being tested. How many of those reports have any substance still remains to be seen, but for now, we seem to have yet another report of a current-generation premium Galaxy handset undergoing tests with its Marshmallow ROM.
The source of the report is a citation on the Geekbench database that apparently lists the international, unlocked version of the Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F) with Android 6.0.1 mentioned officially as the operating system. An earlier leak had already suggested that the Marshmallow update for the smartphone will be released in January of next year, and that, the testing for the same will commence in December itself. So the latest Geekbench listing lines up nicely with that report, even though it's important to note that like on most occasions, all reports are unverified as of now. However, if everything does fall in place like clockwork, the Galaxy S6 might be one of the very first devices from the Samsung stable to have Marshmallow rolled out to it.
Of course, the Galaxy S6 is not the only Samsung device that is reportedly being prepped for Marshmallow. Just a few days back, the company's last-generation flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 4, was reportedly spotted running Android 6.0. What's more, the latest flagship phablet from the house of Samsung, the Galaxy Note 5, is also apparently fairly close to getting updated to Marshmallow, seeing as last month, a Marshmallow ROM was apparently mistakenly rolled out as an OTA update to at least one Galaxy Note 5 phablet bought at T-Mobile in the US.


text:
When discussing the topic of so-called 'mass surveillance', be it by a government, intelligence agency or technology firm, it has become a cliché to reference George Orwell's novel 1984. Nevertheless, it is now clear this timeless tale of telescreens and thoughtcrime was almost tame when compared to what transpired in reality.
Since the Edward Snowden disclosures in 2013, which exposed a vast spying apparatus used by intelligence agencies across the globe to collect and collate the calls, text messages and social media content of citizens, privacy has become ingrained in the public consciousness. So, in this unbridled era of smart-technology, what has happened to personal privacy? Does it even still exist? To find out, IBTimes UK asked a number of experts one simple question: Is privacy dead?
"Our lives have completely changed," F-Secure security expert Mikko Hyppönen told IBTimes UK in an interview. "If you look at the next generation, even 20-year-olds, they have lived their whole lives in a world where internet and the web has always been there. Google has always been there; they can't imagine a time before that. The ones who remember the time before the internet are dinosaurs and we think about the world differently.
"Today, everybody carries tracking devices on them at all times, we sleep next to a tracking device because most people use [smartphones] as an alarm clock as well. Every single place we go is tracked and saved.
"Every single person we communicate with, that information is tracked and saved. We have never had such a thing happen in the history of mankind and we don't yet know what this level of tracking really means."
"It means that privacy well and truly is dead," he asserted, while noting that 'free' applications are never really free of charge. Instead, unsuspecting digital citizens now 'pay' with their personal data – in some cases their identity.
"For this next generation, they have lived their whole lives where you pay for 'content' in the real world with money and you pay for 'content' in the online world with your privacy - and they assume that that's normal and it's the way it's supposed to be," he said. "The war on privacy? We already lost it. We are still fighting the war on security and I hope we don't lose that as well."
However, it's not just broad fears over government surveillance that impact web users eager to share as much of their lives online as possible.
"For the 'digital native' privacy is dead, well... kind of," Bharat Mistry, cybersecurity consultant at security firm Trend Micro, told IBTimes UK. "When this group are online, privacy is the last thing on their minds. They just want to share what they are feeling or where they are, for example."
For Mistry, the issue for many people online – especially younger people – is that their personal data is mostly open for anyone to see. Be it Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, which all boast millions of users across the world, the loss of privacy could leave many people at risk when it comes to something as routine as finding a job.
"Employers will be trawling through the internet getting background information of prospective employees," he explained. Any compromising information such as photos or tweets could mean the difference between getting a job or not."
Combating invasions of privacy
Matthew Rice, advocacy officer for Privacy International, told IBTimes UK that he doesn't believe privacy is dead. However, he said the public is more concerned about the issue than ever before.
To back up his assertion, Rice pointed towards a survey published last year by Microsoft titled 'Views from Around the Globe' which found that a majority of users on the web said the rise of personal devices like smartphones and tablets has had a "negative impact on privacy".
"This does not mean the right is dead, quite the opposite," explained Rice. "The survey showed that it is a concern at the forefront of people's engagement with technology. [This is] a fact that some companies have even gone on to recognise and respond to."
Of course, Rice is referencing the recent stalemate between Apple and US law enforcement at the FBI which left the iPhone maker refusing to bow to government pressure to break its own encryption protocols. Rice noted that WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging applications in the world, recently turned on 'end-to-end' encryption for its one billion-strong userbase; a major win for anyone concerned about the sanctity of online conversations.
"Wherever you look there is a discussion going on about the right to privacy and technologies' effect on it," said Rice. "Undoubtedly there are tensions and threats in this modern interconnected world, which is what happens to a right that is very much alive and involved in debates. No-one is writing any eulogies for privacy, we're just beginning the next chapter."


text:
FST Logistics, an industry leader in dry and temperature-controlled logistics, announces its partnership with Highway to enhance operational efficiency, secure its carrier network, and combat fraud. Leveraging Highway's innovative technology, FST Logistics aims to streamline carrier onboarding, boost operational efficiency, and secure its supply chain.
DALLAS – July 20, 2023 — FST Logistics, a leading provider of dry and temperature-controlled logistics solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Highway, a leading provider of carrier identity management technology. This partnership aims to enhance FST Logistics' carrier onboarding process, bolster operational efficiency, and significantly mitigate risks associated with fraud and double brokering.
As a tech-forward logistics enterprise, FST Logistics continually seeks innovative solutions to streamline its operations and deliver unparalleled service to its customers. By leveraging Highway's advanced technology, FST Logistics will further automate its carrier setup process, utilizing advanced monitoring and vetting capabilities to minimize the risk of fraud and strengthen its supply chain security.
"We're committed to innovation that supports our growth and enhances the service we deliver to our customers," said Brian Asher, Executive Vice President, Brokerage Services of FST Logistics. "Our partnership with Highway allows us to build upon our robust carrier network with increased confidence and efficiency. It's a win for us, our carriers, and ultimately, our customers."
The heart of Highway's solution is the Carrier Identity Engine, an innovative technology that enables brokers to verify carriers at both company and dispatch levels. This verification process provides an added layer of security, drastically reducing the risk of double brokering and strengthening the integrity of the supply chain.
Moreover, Highway's technology streamlines the carrier onboarding process, reducing manual tasks and enabling FST Logistics to scale more efficiently. With Highway's solutions, FST Logistics can provide seamless user experiences for carriers, thereby improving carrier satisfaction and retention rates.
"Our mission is to empower shippers, freight brokers, and logistics service providers with the tools to verify carrier identity, reduce fraud, and streamline operations," said Michael Caney, Highway Chief Commercial Officer. "We're delighted to partner with FST Logistics and look forward to supporting their commitment to operational excellence and secure carrier relationships."
In the rapidly evolving logistics landscape, this partnership demonstrates FST Logistics' commitment to leveraging state-of-the-art technology to meet industry challenges head-on. By integrating Highway's robust solutions into its processes, FST Logistics is poised for continued growth and operational efficiency, setting a new standard in the logistics industry.
Highway is a premier technology provider that assists shippers, freight brokers, and logistics service providers in verifying carrier identity to reduce fraud and streamline the digital booking process. Highway enhances carrier engagement and offers a carrier-friendly standard of compliance within a scalable framework. Highway provides transparency into fleet analytics of more than 280,000 carriers throughout North America. Its Lane Certainty™ geospatial algorithm matches millions of carrier data points to help find the ideal capacity in a desired lane. (www.gohighway.com)
About FST Logistics
FST Logistics is an industry leader in dry and temperature-controlled logistics solutions. Established in 1991, the company provides a broad range of services, including warehousing, transportation, and fulfillment, to meet the unique needs of the food and grocery sector. With a customer-centric approach and commitment to innovation, FST Logistics integrates state-of-the-art technology and best practices to deliver exceptional service and value to its customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, FST Logistics is dedicated to providing reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions that contribute to the success of its customers and the broader food supply chain. For more information, visit www.fstlogistics.com.


text:
Weekly commodities index for New Zealand
THE Commonwealth Bank of Australia has launched the first weekly commodity prices index for New Zealand.
The index weights 18 of the countrys commodity exports according to their contribution to total exports.
It includes: dairy products; livestock products, such as wool, lamb, and beef; and other products such as aluminium, fish, fruit and oil.
The index will be published weekly, at midday every Monday.
- Australia launches real-time commodities index, FWi, 05 May, 1999
- Commodity index for Australia, FWi, 24 March, 1999
- Sydney plans electronic futures exchange, FWi, 02 February, 1999
- Financial Times 12/05/99 page 44


text:
One of the leading lifestyle and boardsports-oriented successful brands in the world Volcom has released Kristion Jordan's striking skateboarding part.
This year marks the brand's 30th anniversary as they head uncapped their 12-year-old talented rider Jordan for the celebration.
The goofy-footed skateboarder earned his spot since day one and the newly released clip sits perfectly well in three decades of youth liberation.
Jordan has done a lot of skateboarding tricks in the video making Volcom invigorate its image to its right target market.
While the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for skaters all over the world, Volcom still supported proficient athletes making Jordan one of the ace players on the team.
The Pasadena California skater made the handrails look easy to skate. His impressive kickflip frontside boardslide down Hollywood high, switch stances and other mind-blowing tricks are all enders.
Watch the polished skate video below and don't forget to follow Kristion Jordan and congratulate him on his new part via his official Instagram here.


text:
When the pandemic turned the U.S. stock market upside down, Jessica Myers and Davonne Reaves were busy working on closing an $8.3 million deal of a major hotel chain. The two former college roommates, now business partners, were proof that millionaires can be made in a down economy. They now have the portfolio to prove it.
The pair became two of the youngest African American females to become franchise owners after acquiring a Home 2 Suites by Hilton in El Reno, Oklahoma. The business transaction was made through their hotel ownership platform Epiq Collective and aided by the partnership of Nassau Investments, a property management company. Within less than two years, Myers and Reaves added two more hotels to their ownership list.
“When the market is going crazy, that’s our Black Friday sale,” says Myers, explaining how she and Reaves were able to purchase their first property at a discount. “We were looking for a deal years before, but couldn’t find it.”
But this isn’t the only item on their agenda. As Black travel continues to soar, Myers and Reaves want to help the hospitality industry become more inclusive to better serve these consumers. The spending power of Black travelers has long been underestimated, not to mention undervalued. Black travelers contribute a significant amount to the U.S. tourism economy—$109 billion to be exact, according to a 2019 study.
Her hotel directory, the Stay Black Experience, is one way Reaves hopes to connect Black travelers with more Black-owned and managed lodging venues.
Reaves, also the founder of hospitality firm The Vonne Group, started out working as a front desk agent at the Hyatt. Ownership in the hospitality industry is something she wants to see more people of color attain.
“In our community when people think about owning real estate, it’s usually single or multi family homes—no one is talking about hotels,” says Reaves. “I’ve turned my passion into a purpose, which is to help create more African American hotel owners and investors.”
Collaboration over competition
Myers knew that her partner’s 15 years experience working in the hospitality realm, coupled with her own expertise in closing residential properties, would fast track their path to becoming hotelier mavens.
“We were two powerhouses together,” says Myers. “The magic of what Davonne [Reaves] and I have done is that we figured out that we don’t need to do everything by ourselves and that we could combine our resources.”
After leaving her job in media, Myers dabbled in a few real estate ventures, perfecting her prowess as a developer and renovator to eventually land opportunities to oversee the development of celebrity homes in Atlanta, Georgia.
But, “I knew doing single-family homes would take a long time,” she says, recounting why she decided to diversify her real estate portfolio by venturing into hotels. “My vision was 1,000 doors and I realized I was able to get further ahead with these doors [with] commercial assets.”
Navigating the challenges
Entering these doors of the hotel industry is no easy feat. Just ask Kendra Plummer, who’s had to navigate the challenges that come with being young, Black, and a woman in her short time as a hotelier and investor. Staying with her family at picturesque resorts in Barbados and Jamaica when she was a little girl opened Plummer’s eyes to cementing a career in hospitality. The 31-year-old acquired her first Georgia-based hotel, a Hampton Inn, in July last year.
“The first bump in the road came when the seller saw this was my first asset,” says Plummer. “One of the issues that we have with the Black community, and women as well is that our net worth is not as large as our counterparts and a lot of lenders have restrictions.”
More than 59,000 hotels are in the U.S., yet, less than 2% of women are at the helm, according to estimates in a report done by the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers. It’s a reality that Plummer is seeking to change through her hotel advisory and education platform, Elise Capital.
“It’s about promoting collective economics within our community so that we can invest together as partners and bring back wealth,” says Plummer.
The future of the hotel industry
There’s no question that consumers have caught the travel bug. After two years of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the appetite for leisure trips has accelerated the hospitality industry into an economic reset. Global hotel occupancy has already exceeded pre-pandemic levels and bookings are on track to remain elevated through July.
As these numbers continue to soar, the importance of better attracting Black travelers, in ways such as targeted ads that equitably includes their perspectives, should be top of mind. More Black hotel owners at the table will help with this, says Reaves.
She adds, “A lot of brands are putting together programs and initiatives in place to increase the percentage of African American hotel owners, so there has been some progress.”


text:
Content security specialist Verimatrix, which earlier this week reported it and partner Ericsson had signed a big deal with Taiwan's largest operator, moved across the world to announce a pair of customer wins in the over-the-top delivery sector.
Serbia Broadband, a Serbian cable TV and broadband Internet provider, and Telemach, a Slovenian and Bosnian cable TV and broadband provider, have deployed the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System for Internet Television platform. The Verimatrix solution is designed to help operators offer enhanced OTT video services and provide give them new revenue security.
Verimatrix said the two companies' expanded OTT services are based on standard delivery protocol. Both feature streaming over SBB and Telemach networks, which will support the launch of 60 live channels, 40 catch-up TV channels and video-on-demand (VoD) content. HLS has been integrated on Android, PC, Mac and iOS clients, with set-top boxes (STB) expected to be ready soon.
Both operators will initially roll the service out to their customers, but they also will be able to offer the service outside of their footprints.
- see this release
Ericsson, Verimatrix partnership scores IPTV deal with Chunghwa
Accedo partners with Verimatrix on OTT delivery play
Service providers get a new option for TV Everywhere from itaas, RGB Networks, Verimatrix
Verimatrix rolls out next-gen security for early release VOD content
Verimatrix buys German DVB security firm Comvenient
Ericsson pays $25M for Technicolor broadcast services unit


text:
Tesla Power India has unveiled its ambitious hiring plan, aiming to recruit more than 2,000 employees for its newly launched refurbished battery brand, ReStore. This move aligns with the company’s strategy to bolster its presence in the market and establish over 5,000 stores within the next two years.
Kavinder Khurana, Managing Director of Tesla Power India, emphasised the significance of skilled individuals in achieving sustainable goals through innovation. He expressed excitement about welcoming new talent and leveraging their contributions to further the company’s mission of ‘Save Cost. Save the Environment. Save Lives.’
In line with fostering a thriving work culture, Tesla Power India is committed to providing learning and upskilling opportunities for its employees, catering to the evolving demands of the industry. The company adopts a multifaceted approach to hiring, utilising market mapping, digital platforms, campus recruitment, and collaboration with recruitment consultants.
Despite challenges in navigating the unstructured market and reaching talent in rural areas, Tesla Power India remains dedicated to addressing these obstacles through skills assessments, training programmes, mentorship, and job rotations. The battery industry has exhibited resilience during the pandemic, with relatively minimal impact on salary levels compared to other sectors. This stability underscores the industry’s adaptability and consistent compensation structure.
As Tesla Power India continues its expansion journey, the focus remains on attracting top talent, nurturing a culture of innovation, and driving sustainable growth in the Indian market.


text:
The Russian Export Center has invited Belarusian companies to become residents of the Russian industrial zone in Egypt, BelTA reported.
The project was presented in the Belarusian Industry Ministry on 21 August.
The key goal of the project is to open access to the market of Egypt, its neighbors, and other Middle East and African countries to as large a number of companies from Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union as possible.
A complex industrial park will be established on an area of 525 ha within the next five years. Its residents will be able to enjoy such advantages as proximity to the most important logistics channels, business operation rules, which are simplified as much as possible, and a one-stop shop principle for dealing with problems.
Director General of the Russian Export Center Andrei Slepnev, Belarusian Deputy Industry Minister Aleksandr Ogorodnikov, Russia's trade representative in Belarus Yuri Zolotarev, representatives of Belarusian industrial companies (MAZ, BelAZ, Gomselmash, BMZ, BATE, and other ones) took part in the presentation.
Andrei Slepnev said: “We invite Belarusian companies to join us. In turn, we are ready to provide the necessary consulting support. It is a real opportunity to enter new markets and make your brand international. Belarusian-Russian projects can also be implemented in the future with assistance of mechanisms of the Russian industrial zone.”
The Russian Export Center registered a daughter enterprise – Russian Industries Overseas Egypt – in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Egypt in early August.
Apart from that, a pool of potential resident companies for implementing the first stage of the project has been formed.
Belarusian companies have expressed interest in not only participating in the Russian industrial zone project but also in advancing cooperation with the Russian Export Center in other areas of trade and economic interaction.


text:
Free taxi ordering app GetTaxi has launched its first competition on Facebook, for the chance to win a Samsung Galaxy S3.
The campaign, which launches this week, is an online treasure hunt featuring a series of questions with images and clues with a taxi theme, with the first person to correctly answer all the questions which are posted over the next two weeks being named the winner.
Roy Manor, UK CEO of GetTaxi, said: "Facebook is a fantastic way of reaching out to the everyday consumer. This is the first time GetTaxi has worked with Facebook and we’re extremely excited to see how the activity pans out. We’re hoping the treasure hunt will grow our Facebook likes and gain greater awareness of the GetTaxi service.”


text:
The Times, the most respected newspaper in the UK reported that Amazon was supporting the Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF) which has advocated the stoning deaths of women for adultery, female genital mutilation, forced marriages at an early age and the beating of women by their husbands. The founder of MRDF is Saudi-born Haitham al-Haddad, who has been described publicly as “one of the most dangerous men in Britain” by counter-extremists.
Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, funnels money to this radical Islamist group that wants to establish Sharia law in the UK through his Amazon Smile program. Sound familiar? That is the same program the Religious Freedom Coalition was kicked out of because Jeff Bezos decided giving diapers to Christian refugees and not Muslims was “hate.” Because the Religious Freedom Coalition helps the victims of Sunni Muslim terror, we were placed on the “hate map of the
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Jeff Bezos relies on the money hungry leaders of SPLC to tell him what charities should get money from Amazon Smile.
Bottom line: Jeff Bezos supports a radical Muslim “charity” whose leader promotes stoning women to death, yet bars Amazon customers from donating half a cent of their purchases to the Religious Freedom Coalition to buy diapers for the babies of Christian refugees. Jeff Bezos has fifty times the money Donald Trump does. Bezos is building a home in Washington D.C. nearly the size of the White House, and may have plans to use his wealth to buy the presidency. Most of Amazon’s profits, by the way, come from military contracts — not retails sales. His computer systems handle all CIA and most military documents. His wealth comes from the taxpayers!


text: Posted on April 9, 2015 by Noodle Update News Flash Here’s the latest news and links from NoodleHaus. – We’re excited for Marvel’s Daredevil. Are you? – For all the Xbox One cable-cutters out there, get ready for the future! NOODLEHAUS. All your news are belong to us.


text:
The clean energy package will stimulate manufacturing and retail of sustainable energy products, but might the battery sector be looking at unintended consequences?
The EV sector is already hyper stimulated with demand outstripping supply. Latest research from across 18 countries shows that 52% of car buyers want their next car to be a BEV[i] but vehicle production is still only at 8% of global supply.
Combine this with a surge in battery energy storage – the 50 per cent increase in capacity of 2020 over 2019[ii] now looks to become annual cumulative growth – and demand for batteries will not meet supply.
Every requirement for inflation is therefore in place in the battery market, but could it go the same way as the semi-conductor market?
The crisis in the semi-conductor industry, where shortages caused delays across the automotive industry, has just flipped into an over-supply situation. The semiconductor industry is now facing a downturn. Manufacturers are slashing billions from their spending plans[iii], following a nose-dive in sales from related industries such as mobile phones and gaming.
Could the same happen to the battery industry? Alex Johns from battery health insurance company Altelium, says there are solid reasons why this won’t happen.
Firstly, the type of batteries made for vehicles and energy storage are the same, but the technical requirements mean few are used in consumer products, so there are no other market influences.
More importantly, the $7,500 tax credit toward the purchase of any battery vehicle including plug-in hybrids, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, is a huge incentive and will increase sales. Academic research suggests that every $1,000 worth of EV tax credits drives a 2.6% increase in EV sales[iv].
It seems perverse to stimulate sales of cars which are still high lifetime CO2 emitters, as plug-in hybrid vehicles can be, but this could be the only way to encourage consumers, wedded to the oil and gas industry, to experience the electric charging and the day-to-day fuel cost savings of battery power.
The stimulation of plug-in hybrid vehicle sales alone will dramatically increase competition for batteries. When added to the inevitable increase in demand for full BEVs (using batteries approximately 9x larger than each plug-in hybrid), the supply and demand imbalance becomes glaringly obvious. Price inflation and supply chain limitations are inevitable.
To manage this challenge, there are only three options available: (a) raise battery and EV prices to suppress demand; (b) produce more batteries for vehicles and energy storage or (c) make batteries last longer.
Much has been written about options (a) and (b), but few realise the substantial difference that can be made by maximising the life of all the batteries, option (c). It is the quickest, cheapest and most sustainable way to manage the inflationary situation that has been created.
Is the industry promoting this sustainable approach sufficiently?
Our research shows that the life of a battery can be extended by 400 per cent through informed use. Altelium’s EV warranties and energy storage insurance products are based on world class knowledge of battery performance and health.
Our raison d’etre is to protect any investment in batteries. Our active warranty and insurance policies show how to extend the life of batteries, with incentives for good planning and operational practices.
We also make it possible to sell and operate second life batteries with much greater confidence, which is the cornerstone to a viable circular economy and trade in batteries.
The U.S. Senate’s Inflation Reduction Act certainly looks a misnomer for the EV battery market, but this doesn’t mean it will necessarily be a bad thing.
It may create the world largest experiential programme for electric drive power. As this happens, we must ensure people are also taught how to maximise the health and life of their batteries. With this education, and good insurance policies in place, the Act could well deliver on its climate change intentions in the long run.


text:
Mumbai: Allcargo Logistics, the largest player in the private sector logistics space, has acquired an additional 7.5 per cent stake in Gati, becoming the single largest shareholder in the express logistics company with 20.8 per cent stake. It can be noted that late last November the Shashi Kiran Shetty-led company had announced plans to buy 44.5 per cent in Gati for Rs 416 crore in a three-way deal.
The latest stake purchase comes even as Allcargo is awaiting Sebi nod to begin an open offer for picking up an additional 26 per cent in the Hyderabad-based company.
The latest share purchase is done through a preferential allotment in line with the Gati's shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on January 7, as well as open market purchases aggregating to an additional 91 lakh shares.
While Gati promoter sold 5.16 per cent stake to Allcargo pursuant to the share purchase agreement, another 2.31 per cent was bought from the open market on Tuesday, Allcargo said in a statement.
The company did not disclose the price at which the shares were bought on Tuesday. While Gati shares closed 0.73 per cent up at Rs 69.40 on the BSE, the Allcargo counter closed 1.1 per cent down at Rs 117.05.
It can be noted that Allcargo had acquired close to 13 per cent stake on January 21 and 8.5 per cent early December.
"Allcargo is on course to complete the transaction to acquire 44.5 per cent stake in Gati. We are abiding by the regulatory and compliance norms while carrying out this transaction," Shetty, chairman of Allcargo, was quoted as saying in the statement.
He further said on completion of the deal, Allcargo will gain a leadership position in the domestic express logistics segment and develop capabilities to offer end-to-end services to its customers.
The recent share purchase from the promoters marks the end of the second phase of a three-way deal that Allcargo intends to complete in due course.
It can be noted that on January 8, more than 87 per cent of Gati shareholders had voted for the sale of the company to Allcargo despite a concerted bid by the estranged family of Gati promoters to scuttle the deal.
Gati founder Mahendra Agarwal's wife Neera and sons Dhruv and Manish had in December approached regulator Sebi to stall the open offer from Allcargo, citing various court cases against Agarwal and a Hyderabad court order to attach his 1.6 million shares.
Earlier this month, global private equity major Blackstone had agreed to pump Rs 380 crore into an Allcargo arm engaged in warehousing through a combination of equity and debentures worth up to Rs 380 crore, Allcargo had said on January 13.
According to a complaint filed by Vivek Gupta, the Chief Financial Officer of JBM Group, Sector 44, it was on Friday that he received messages on WhatsApp requesting to transfer certain sums to bank accounts indicated in the messages.


text:
Narrow your search
Flights in and out of the UK's capital are expected to be severely delayed, following a flight data computer failure, regulator Eurocontrol says.
In drone versus firehose there is one clear winner. But was the drone controller invading privacy, or are the firefighters guilty of destroying his property?
Drones have been used to deliver abortion drugs to women in Poland in a protest against Poland's pregnancy termination laws.
Technically Incorrect: A man allegedly unhappy with government corruption decides the best way to express his displeasure is to land a foreign aircraft on the West Lawn.
The US government agency's suggested regulations won't let Amazon deliver packages, but they generally make it very easy for businesses to use drones.
The long-awaited rules for unmanned aircraft could open the door for much more regular use of the devices. However, delivery drones don't fit in the new proposed regulations.
The year gone by brought us more robots, worries about artificial intelligence, and difficult lessons on space travel. The big question: where's it all taking us?
It's easier than ever to get your hands on a ready-to-fly quadcopter to send buzzing around the skies. But there are definitely some guidelines you'll want to follow before taking off.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants to ship goods using unmanned aircraft. Some are skeptical, others nervous, but drones already are improving the way we live.
Amazon says if the US agency won't play, its drone operations will end up overseas. We'll see whether that threat gets off the ground.


text:
Google's Pixel phones are now the fastest growing in the U.S.
Research firm Strategy Analytics recently published a report on its website with a pretty eye-grabbing headline — Google Pixel is Fastest-Growing US Smartphone Brand. There aren't any numbers associated with the report, but it's quite impressive nonetheless.
Google didn't start releasing phones under the Pixel brand until 2016, and at that time, it was entering a market that was essentially dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung. Even for a company of Google's size, that was still a big mountain to climb.
The original Pixel and Pixel XL weren't perfect, but they did deliver industry-leading cameras, were the first phones to ship with the Google Assistant, and offered an incredible software experience. 2017's Pixel 2 series refined the design and made the cameras even better. With the most recent Pixel 3 handsets, Google finally delivered on things like wireless charging, much better displays, and a premium all-glass construction.
Turns out people like Google's phones.
It's been quite fascinating to see the Pixel line grow and evolve over the past few years, and going into 2019 with this momentum, Google's in a position to hold onto that title of owning the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the U.S.
In addition to thePixel 4 lineup towards the end of the year, we're also expecting aPixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL to be released — providing a lot of what makes the Pixel 3 so great in a more affordable package for consumers.
Are you at all surprised by this report? If you live in the U.S., do you own a Pixel phone? Sound off in the comments below.
- What is pixel binning? Everything you should know about this photographic technique
- Build a single-pixel scanning camera with an RGB sensor
- Pixel 3 Lite/XL 360度渲染图曝光：无刘海全面屏、或3800元起
- 17 Best Weekend Deals: Wireless Chargers, Pixel 3, and More
- Ron Johnson Interviewed on ‘Without Fail’
- 为了改进单摄 Pixel 3 的人像模式，Google 造了一台「五摄怪物」
- Verizon is launching RCS, but only for the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL
- Verizon is launching RCS Chat on the Pixel 3 on December 6th
- A year after switching from the iPhone to the Google Pixel, I'm sad to admit it wasn't worth it
- Deep learning in Satellite imagery
- 用iPad mini打电话
- 开源安卓恶意软件窃取用户隐私信息，Google Play强制删除无效
- Why reCAPTCHA is actually an act of human torture
- I Visited 49 Sites. Hundreds of Trackers Followed Me
- 甜品不够用了？Google 宣布将新系统命名为 Android 10
- Google 相册现在能让你搜索照片里的文字
- Google follows Apple with its own anti-tracking policy for Chromium-based browsers


text:
Successful sustainability initiatives have become a key component of global firms’ brand strength, according to the consultancy behind the annual Best Global Brands Report.
Speaking ahead of the publication today of the latest edition of the report, Rune Gustafson, London chief executive at Interbrand, said that it was becoming almost impossible for a firm to retain a strong brand without also having a credible sustainability strategy.
“It is becoming a “hygiene factor”,” he explained. “If you don’t have a good sustainability record people will be turned off by the brand.” Read more
Source: Business Green


text:
HONG KONG — Buyers and suppliers at the Interstoff Asia textiles fair here said rising labor costs in China were becoming an increasingly heavy burden on them.
Manufacturers expressed concern over the increasing cost of production as a result of rising minimum wages and the need to provide better benefits to workers in Mainland China. Meanwhile, a decreasing supply of skilled factory laborers also weighed on their minds.
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


text:
The revival of Moto Morini is set to step up another gear with the addition of a larger, more powerful 1200cc version of its X-Cape adventure tourer in 2023.
The fresh model - dubbed the Moto Morini X-Cape 1200 - has been teased with a series of official images from the Italian marque, with a debut slated for late 2023.
The motorcycle represents Moto Morini returning to its roots in offering large capacity models in the vein of the now discontinued Corsaro and Milan, having prioritised rebuilding its range with the more affordable 650cc X-Cape and Seiemmezzo naked.
Considered a spiritual successor to the Granpasso, the Moto Mornini X-Cape 1200 retains signatures familiar to its smaller sibling with a tall, slender profile and angular, if generic, design. Beyond the size, the most notable difference between the 650 and 1200 models is the latter’s sharper, swept-up headlights.
Riding on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, the images show the X-Cape 1200 on Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres, with Brembo Stylema brakes also equipped.
Under the skin, the 1200cc engine is lifted from Corsaro and Milan but has been upgraded and is now Euro5 compliant.
The X-Cape 1200 represents the second brand-new model to emerge from Moto Morini in recent weeks, following on from the X-Cape ADV-R, a more rugged, honed adventure motorcycle that will join the range in 2023 before the 1200 hits the road.
Moto Morini on the comeback trail
The unveiling of the X-Cape 1200 is the latest step in the Chinese-financed marque’s revival following a troubled period that saw it go bankrupt as recently as 2009.
Just one of myriad storied Italian motorcycle brands to hit hard times over the years, Moto Morini went into voluntary liquidation in 2009 and all-but-ceased production for the next three years while it sold off its assets.
Eventually Moto Morini found a new owner in Eagle Bike - run by two Italian entrepreneurs - in 2012 and returned to the market with a trio of 1200cc models in the Granpasso, Corsaro Veloce and Scrambler.
In 2018, however, Moto Morini changed hands again with its sale to the Chinese firm Zhongneng Vehicle Group, launching the X-Cape 650 as the first product of its new ownership at the 2019 EICMA show.
Going on sale in 2021 to coincide with the phasing out of the Corsaro and Milan, the X-Cape 650 was joined by the Seiemmezzo 6½ later that year to give the firm a foothold in the volume-orientated mid-capacity market.
The X-Cape 1200, however, leans back into the larger capacity arena it made its name to rival the likes of the Honda CRF 1100L Africa Twin and Ducati Multistrada V2.
Moto Morini’s Chinese-financed resurrection will look to emulate the runaway success of fellow Italian firm Benelli, which has seen sales soar in Asia under major investment from QJ Motor and now lays claim to Italy’s best-selling model in the Benelli TRK 502.


text:
Four weeks ago, renowned British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking posed a question to Yahoo Answers. "How can the human race survive the next hundred years?" he asked.
Since then, people have posted more than 25,000 responses. Hawking will select his choice for the best answer this week, Yahoo says. And on Wednesday, he will talk about the fate of the world in an exclusive audio clip that will be posted on Yahoo Search and Yahoo Video.
Hawking is just one of a handful of celebrities Yahoo has tapped to pose questions on Yahoo Answers, including Donald Trump, Al … Read more


text:
Google Finance users will now be able to get a quick rundown of the top cryptocurrency prices with just one click as Google Finance has now added a crypto market tab to its business tool.
The search engine has added a fifth “Crypto” tab on Google Finance. The new section displays pricing information for various digital currencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). The page also allows a graphical comparison between the price action of the above-mentioned cryptocurrencies as well.
The move is significant as millions of Google Finance users will now get a closer look at the cryptocurrency market. The event also hints that the internet giant might be slowly changing its tune regarding cryptocurrencies.
The growth of the cryptocurrency market over the past years has drawn mainstream attention. The institutional traders and major corporations, like Tesla, Mastercard, and Paypal, and their dynamic investment in cryptocurrencies have boosted the industry’s credibility. Their involvement in this emerging market helped push the industry’s total market capitalization to new highs beyond $1.7 trillion in February.
Google had cracked-down on cryptocurrency-related advertising and updated its financial services-related ad policies to ban any advertising about cryptocurrency-related content. Google also included initial coin offerings (ICOs), wallets, and trading advice.
Google’s concerns weren’t too erroneous. There were also multiple reports of crypto-jacking malware attacks that secretly mine cryptocurrency by stealing the physical resources of a victim’s hardware facilitated by malicious apps on Google’s play store.
In 2020c crypto-related crimes have reduced markedly, and regulators have also called for clearer guidelines on digital assets. This could be the main reason why Google might be reconsidering their attitude regarding cryptocurrencies.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.


text:
The S&P 500 index lost 1.5% last week from peak to trough, as investors became more cautious. With the index up 16% year-to-date and 34% over the last 12 months, some profit-taking isn’t unreasonable. For the most part, investors have bought the dips recently more often than not in everything from tech to dividend stocks.
If, however, this profit-taking leads to further market declines and the declines aren’t bought, then investors should brace for further volatility. And dividend stocks are a great way to do that.
The Dividend Aristocrats can even grow in recessionary times because of their strong business models, competitive advantages and dividend growth.
This article will discuss three we feel are among the best at navigating recessions while also demonstrating a long track record of dividend growth.
My three picks among these dividend stocks are:
Dividend Stocks: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
With a market capitalization approaching $444 billion, Johnson & Johnson is one of the largest companies in the world.
The company has three reporting segments: pharmaceuticals, consumer and medical devices that combined to generate revenue of nearly $83 billion last year.
One of the defining characteristics of Johnson & Johnson is its diversified business model. Approximately half of its sales come from pharmaceuticals, with medical devices adding 34% and consumer contributing the remainder
The diversified business model has helped to protect the company when one area is weak. For example, the medical device segment was significantly challenged in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancelation or postponement of many elective surgeries.
As a result, medical devices posted several quarters of declines last year, none worse than the 34% decrease in revenue for the second quarter of last year.
However, pharmaceuticals and consumer performed much better, helping to limit the damage. While the next few quarters were also weak, the other segments provided enough lift to push Johnson & Johnson back into growth mode. While many healthcare companies tend to focus on one area of the sector, Johnson & Johnson has a leadership position in the three main areas of healthcare.
Johnson & Johnson also benefits from operating in the healthcare sector, which tends to be much more recession-proof than other industries.
People tend to prioritize their health through all portions of the economic cycle. This occurred during the 2007-2009 recession as Johnson & Johnson’s earnings-per-share were higher by almost 12% over this period.
The company’s diversified business model and ability to grow during recessions is one of the main reasons that Johnson & Johnson has been able to increase its dividend for 59 consecutive years.
This qualifies the company as a Dividend King, making it one of just 30 or so names with at least five decades of dividend growth. And with a projected payout ratio of just 44% for 2021, the likelihood of further dividend growth seems highly likely. Shares yield 2.5%, more than a full percentage point above the S&P 500 index.
McDonald’s is one of the largest fast-food restaurants in the world. The company has more than 39,000 locations in more than 100 countries.
McDonald’s has a market capitalization of $176 billion and annual sales in excess of $19 billion.
The company saw its revenue decline nearly 29% from 2019 through 2020. Some of this can be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic as social distancing requirements led to fewer customer visits. The remainder of this is attributable to McDonald’s efforts to re-franchise its stores.
After an immense effort to do so over the past few years, 93% of store locations are now run by franchises or affiliates. As a result, McDonald’s records most of its revenue in the form of franchise fees.
While this has led to fewer revenues overall, it has allowed McDonald’s to operate with fewer assets on its balance sheet. Doing so has enabled the company to see its profit margin grow. In pre-pandemic 2019 the net profit margin was almost 29% compared to 20% a decade earlier.
Another way McDonald’s has separated itself from the competition is through its menu offerings. The company successfully experimented with all-day breakfast, which has become a mainstay at many store locations. The company also provides low-cost dining options that are especially appealing in recessionary times.
McDonald’s has also embraced the use of technology at a quicker pace than many in the restaurant industry. Many store locations offer kiosks that allow for direct purchasing. The company’s partnerships with delivery services, including GrubHub (NASDAQ:GRUB) and Uber (NYSE:UBER) Eats, helped to keep sales from falling even more in 2020.
Finally, McDonald’s has a size and scale that is nearly unmatched in its industry. The company’s store footprint is immense and McDonald’s still has plans to expand its location count.
McDonald’s performance during the last recession speaks to its strength as a company. Earnings-per-share grew 37% from 2007 to 2009, as the company’s value prices attracted consumers who were watching their spending.
Given its business model and recession performance, it is no surprise that McDonald’s has a long track record of dividend growth. Shareholders have received a dividend increase for 45 consecutive years, earning McDonald’s the title of Dividend Aristocrat. Shares yield 2.2% at the moment.
The dividend payout ratio is a reasonable 61%, making it a strong possibility that McDonald’s will one day take its place amongst the Dividend Kings.
Dividend Stocks: Walmart (WMT)
Walmart is the largest retailer in the world, with a total store space of more than 1.1 billion square feet.
The company is valued at nearly $400 billion and generated revenue of $555 billion in fiscal year 2021, which ended January 31.
By far, Walmart’s best asset is its massive size and scale. The company has roughly 3,600 supercenters, 374 discount stores, almost 600 Sam’s Clubs and nearly 800 Neighborhood Markets in the U.S. The company also has another 6,100 stores spread out over Asia, Canada, Latin America and the U.K.
This enables Walmart to reach an incredibly large number of customers every day. In fact, the company welcomes 230 million customers to its stores worldwide each week.
Reaching this mass of people allows the company to sell its products at extremely low prices, something that competitors cannot often match. This means that Walmart has very few real threats to its retail empire and has pricing power over its suppliers.
Walmart’s reach and low prices aid the company well during difficult economic periods of time. Earnings-per-share grew at 16% from 2007 through 2009 showing that consumers flocked to the company’s stores in order to take advantage of the low prices.
With a leadership position in its industry, it is no wonder that Walmart has been a very shareholder-friendly company. The company has increased its dividend for 48 years, leaving it just shy of joining the Dividend Kings.
Shares of Walmart yield just 1.6%, but this is still above what the market index is offering investors today. The company sports a very low payout projected ratio of 37% for the current fiscal year.
On the date of publication, Bob Ciura did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
Bob Ciura has worked at Sure Dividend since 2016. He oversees all content for Sure Dividend and its partner sites. Prior to joining Sure Dividend, Bob was an independent equity analyst. His articles have been published on major financial websites such as The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Business Insider and more. Bob received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from DePaul University and an MBA with a concentration in investments from the University of Notre Dame.


text:
Free Checking Accounts More Available in Small Banks
In June, 2011, the Federal Reserve limited the fees banks could charge retailers for debit card purchases to $0.24 per transaction. This was a significant decrease from the previous average of $0.43 per swipe. Many analysts thought banks would make consumers pay for this loss of revenue by eliminating free checking accounts. But a new study shows that is not the case.
Small banks with assets under $10 billion were exempt from these limits on swipe fees. Those smaller financial institutions can essentially charge whatever they want as an interchange fee. Since there are more smaller banks than larger ones, free checking has actually become more accessible to the general public.
Richard Sullivan of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City estimates a loss of $8 billion a year in swipe fees because of the limit. Despite that loss, free checking in small banks rose from 37% to 44% from 2011 to 2012. Free checking in large banks was cut almost in half to 27%.
Sullivan’s research indicates that small banks have reduced the number of requirements they have for free checking, while large banks have increased these requirements. This makes consumers even more inclined to go to small banks to set up checking accounts.


text:
P&G Uses More than 99% of Materials Entering Its Plants
More than 99.35% of all materials entering Procter & Gamble plants were used, either in products or through recycling, reuse, and conversion of waste to energy, according to the company’s 15th annual sustainability report. More than 50 of the companyâ€™s global sites achieved the goal of sending zero waste to landfill, including every site in Germany.
The P&G sustainability report says that since 2010, the company has reduced manufacturing waste by 56% per unit of production – more than double the companyâ€™s original goal.
Manufacturing waste was reduced to 0.65% of input materials in fiscal year 12/13. The company’s 2020 goal is to ensure manufacturing waste to landfill is less than 0.5% of input materials.
Since 2010, the company has reduced packaging by approximately 4.5% per consumer use. The reduction has come from projects such as product compactions, packaging light-weighting, use of new materials, and more efficient transport packaging. P&G’s waste reduction goal is 20% by 2020.
Unilever, another CPG giant, said earlier this year that more than half of the company’s factories achieved the goal of sending no waste to landfill in 2012, prompting the company to speed up by five years its goal of zero waste to landfill by 2020. By the end of 2015, Unileverâ€™s 252 factories worldwide will not sent any non-hazardous waste to landfill, the company announced in January.
Energy Manager News
- Senators National Energy Policy Vision Leads to a Hopeful Future
- Google Builds Data Center on Site of Old Coal Plant
- EPA Honors 3 Facilities for Combined Heat and Power
- Cheese Factory Installs Anaerobic Digestion
- Certification Program Established for Green Button Standard
- Diesel Genset Market to Reach $68B by 2024, Navigant Says
- Emulsion Mist Collectors Designed for Heavy Industry
- IKEA Plugs In Fuel Cells at California Store


text:
The Justice Department said Apple was the “ringmaster” in a conspiracy to fix e-books prices, a more direct leadership role than portrayed in the department’s April 2012 antitrust lawsuit. …
On Friday, the Department of Justice called off its antitrust
case against Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI), which had been poised to
take over Grupo Modelo, the Mexico-based brewer of Corona. ABI will
still take over most of Modelo, but the rights to sell the
company’s brands in the U.S will be turned over to an independent
The move means instead of two massive brewers (ABI and
MillerCoors), a large brewer (Heineken), and over 2,000 small
brewers, the U.S. will now be served by two massive brewers, two
large brewers (Modelo—now Constellation—controls seven percent of
the U.S. market), and over 2,000 small brewers. According to the
DOJ, this is a big victory for competition.
From the DOJ’s press
As originally proposed, [the merger] would substantially lessen
competition in the market for beer…. ;The department alleged
that the transaction would result in consumers paying more for beer
and would limit innovation in the beer market.
“This is a win for the $80 billion U.S. beer market and
consumers,” said ;Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in
charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “If this
settlement makes just a one percent difference in prices, U.S.
consumers will save almost $1 billion a year.”
Sources not close to the investigation contend, however, that
competition and innovation were not really in peril. These sources
are the multitudinous plethora of arrays of delicious beers
available pretty much freaking everywhere.
Of course, taxes account for about 45 percent of the
cost of beer, so if the federal government was really
interested in saving consumers some coin they could always relax
the excise tax (which comes
to $7.00 on each of the first 60,000 barrels produced and $18 per
barrel after that). Or perhaps the DOJ could look into breaking up
state-level wholesaling cartels, which have a government-granted
stranglehold on supply chains.
Last month, Reason contributor Baylen Linnekin
covered some of the regulatory challenges craft brewers
face. Sadly, lack of corporate welfare does not seem to be
one of those challenges. That story is over at
The New School. H/T: Jacob Grier.
Google has for the first time agreed to legally binding changes to its search results after an antitrust investigation by European regulators. …
European Union regulators are examining the contracts Apple strikes with cellphone carriers that sell its iPhone for possible antitrust violations after several carriers complained that the deals throttled competition. …
Last November, the U.S. Department of Justice quietly closed a three-year antitrust investigation into Monsanto, the biotech giant whose genetic traits are embedded in over 90 percent of America’s soybean crop and more than 80 percent of corn. Despite a splash of press coverage when the investigation was initially announced, its termination went mostly unreported. The DOJ released no written public statement. Only a brief press release from Monsanto conveyed the news.The lack of attention belies the significance of the decision, both for food consumers around the world and for U.S. businesses. Experts who have examined Monsanto’s conduct say the Justice Department’s decision not to act all but officially establishes the firm’s sovereignty over the U.S. seed industry. Many of them also say the decision ratifies aggressive practices Monsanto used to entrench its dominance and deter competition. This includes highly restrictive contractual agreements that excluded rivals, alongside a multibillion-dollar spree to buy up seed companies.Continue Reading… …


text:
As Cambodia’s economy continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the world, organisations such as The Royal Group deepen their investments and commitments to this vibrant Asian nation
Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith
Cambodia is a country on the rise.
A nation torn apart by civil war and its aftermath in the 1970s, more recent times have shown the green shoots of socioeconomic recovery, the past two decades in particular providing evidence that the country is looking forwards into a bright future.
And the latest World Bank statistics provide ample evidence to back up this observation.
For example, Cambodia reached lower middle-income status in 2015, with governing authorities aiming to obtain upper middle-income status by 2030. Driven by garment exports and tourism, the nation’s economy has sustained an average annual growth rate of 7.7 percent between 1995 and 2018, one of the highest in the world.
This activity has led to a continual fall in poverty across the country, official estimates citing a poverty rate of 13.5 percent in 2014 compared with 47.8 percent in 2007.
Further advances have been made in healthcare and education, especially in the fields of maternal and child health, early childhood development and primary education in rural areas; and although developmental challenges remain and require sustained reform, there is an undoubted sense of optimism brewing.
One organisation reverberating such optimism is The Royal Group of Companies.
At the heart of Cambodia’s economic development over the past 20-plus years, the conglomerate stands as the most diversified and largest investment body in the country.
“New affluence is spreading throughout Cambodia,” it states on its website. “Urbanisation, growing literacy rates, and the return of many Cambodians from overseas are reshaping the economic landscape.
“The country has a predominantly young population and an emerging middle class providing a manpower and consumer pool that is revitalising the business environment for the long term.”
Royal Group also highlights the young demographics and rising literacy rates which have risen to 75 percent since 2000, with urban populations growing at a rate of over five percent annually since 1990. Booming tourism, lucrative access to ASEAN, European and North American markets, and a low domestic tax regime are other causes for optimism cited by the company.
These thoughts are backed up in action, no better demonstrated than by the sheer size and depth of Royal Group’s investment portfolio.
Whether it be Cellcard in the technology sphere, ANZ Royal Bank in the finance domain or Northbridge Development Co in the real estate arena, the group’s interests are spread far and wide. This remit also extends heavily into travel and tourism, with investments including The Royal Sands Koh Rong, Giant Ibis Transport and Hotel Cambodiana.
An international vision
This diversity of interests reflects the vision of Royal Group’s Chairman & CEO Neak Oknha Kith Meng.
Spending most of his youth in Australia, he returned to Cambodia in the early 1990s and immediately saw the potential for the nation to thrive.
“It truly is an exciting time in the fastest-growing economy in the world,” he writes in his Chairman’s message. “The Kingdom is facing an incredible future despite its recent history…
“What I found was a country that needed to rise from the ashes. I realised that Cambodia required strong and committed business leaders if it was ever to survive and develop as a nation.”
Kith Meng goes on to explain how his personal journey has occurred in tandem with the nation.
Starting with next to nothing, he has built up The Royal Group into what he describes as the most strategic portal to investing in Cambodia.
“Over the last two decades, we have established a series of market-leading companies with the most recognisable brand names in the country,” he adds in his message. “The cornerstones of our success have been built on transparency, good governance and social conscience.
“Cambodia still has a long way to go and everything is in place for this country to be one of the best-performing in Asia for decades to come. There is significant opportunity for investment in every sector of the economy. Investors in the country today will reap the benefits of a rapidly developing nation for many decades to come.”
The Chairman & CEO also refers to a stable government committed to a free market economy as vital in the recent economic success story, a regime which has helped groups such as his to thrive and provide employment opportunities to Cambodia’s young and energised population.
Powering a digital Cambodia
Technology will be key to realising the potential so passionately outlined by Kith Meng.
Indeed, this has been a particularly busy space for Royal Group in recent months, the company signing a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication (MPTC) to encourage and support the Kingdom’s drive to digitalisation and the adoption of 5G.
Signed in May 2019, the MoU will see both parties step up collaborations and planning for wide-scale adoption of next generation technologies for use cases such as e-government, artificial intelligence, IoT technologies, as well as an ICT innovation centre and cloud data centre.
Further, the partnership will focus on security measures such as disaster recovery, digital signatures and website and email safeguarding.
On announcement of the partnership, Kith Meng commented: “The Royal Group, through our ICT Division, will work with the MPTC to lead the adoption of 5G in Cambodia.
“We have numerous projects already underway and have ensured strong representation of the Kingdom at some very critical delegations including the China Belt and Road Initiative and the Digital Silk Road. We placed our first successful 5G call in September 2018 and are launching 5G services for the general public at the end of this year.
“We will ensure Cambodia stands strongly as a shining example in the region for technological evolution in line with the rapidly advancing commercial sector and increasing economic growth.”
Another tech-focused development earlier this year saw mobile operator Cellcard partner with a gaming tournament held at the Digital Cambodia event at Koh Pich, offering gamers who use their SIMs special in-game upgrades. Cellcard’s booth at the event showcased, among other things, what it has to offer in the world of augmented and virtual reality.
Building the future
Away from the world of digital, Royal Group is also powering development on the ground in the form of real estate.
In May, the company unveiled a major mixed-use development project in Toul Kork, a project carried out in a partnership with Singaporean property developer Hong Lai Huat Group Limited.
Named Royal Platinum and spanning 100,000 square metres, the site will provide both residential and commercial opportunities, improving home affordability, creating jobs and attracting further investment to the growing city centre.
Once completed in 2021/22, It will house 851 apartments and 50 retail units contained within an indoor shopping street.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, Royal Group Chief Financial Officer Mark Hanna commented: “We believe the development will provide an attractive lifestyle for families and contribute to the economic vibrancy of the area with offices for small and medium sized businesses.
“The development will also provide great shopping alternatives and entertainment facilities for all ages including an indoor shopping street, restaurants, and executive club.”
This represents a landmark initiative for Royal Group and will join a long list of prestigious construction either complete or in progress, including the development of Cambodia’s first six-star resort, named Royal Park Resort and located in Siem Reap.
In building for the future, the organisation is also acutely aware of its responsibilities from a social and environmental perspective.
It believes that all individuals, corporations and other bodies need to actively be involved in the conservation of the environment and the growth and wellbeing of society, and has established its own environmental and community service policy.
With an eye on advancing a sustainable, responsible future, as well as a profitable one, Royal Group and its vast portfolio of companies look set to contribute enormously to Cambodia’s development in years to come.


text:
A list of some of the best PSVR games to get excited for in 2018.
The PS4 has been doing incredibly well for itself according to Sony.
A complete guide to the best PlayStation VR deals on Black Friday 2017.
Discounted items include DualShock 4 controllers and PlayStation VR bundles.
This month's PS Plus free games lineup includes a special bonus for PSVR users.
Pre-orders for PSVR’s Moss went live earlier today.
A roundup of the biggest indie games announced at Sony’s Paris Games Week 2017 media showcase.
Japan's love of kitty-collecting knows no bounds.
All bundles will now include a PlayStation Camera.
Quill uses sign language to communicate, and it's adorable.
The best deals and buying advice for PSVR this Cyber Monday.
Fans may soon have the opportunity to experience the world of Breaking Bad in virtual reality.
A look at the rapid growth of virtual reality in 2017.
If you're looking for great games for your Playstation VR then look no further.
How Sony intends to expand its presence in the mobile gaming industry.
This year at Tokyo Game Show VR and mobile games were the focus.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Sign Up for the Dallas Business Journal Afternoon Edition Newsletter
Send this story to a friend
DFW retailers bank on holiday cheer
The specter of a fiscal cliff could impact shoppers’ desire to spend
North Texas retailers and mall managers are upbeat heading into the critical holiday shopping season, with most predicting stronger sales than last year.
Retailers are expecting big crowds for Black Friday, and, in some cases, stores pushed their sales start times back to Thanksgiving night.
NorthPark Center is having a record-setting year, and there are no signs of a slowdown, said Kristin Gibbins, spokeswoman for the mall. Total sales for 2012 are up 5 percent from last year at NorthPark and the shopping center will top $1.1 billion for the year, she said. NorthPark draws more than 26 million visitors each year.
“It’s our best year ever, since we opened,” Gibbins said. “The holidays are the busiest time of the year. We pull two to three times the regular crowd during the holiday season.”
Galleria Dallas has had 30 consecutive months of sales increases. Same-store sales have increased 9 percent to 14 percent year-over-year every month of this year, and she expects that pace to continue.
“We’ve been on a roll for quite some time,” Freed said.
The mall doesn’t quote specific figures, but Freed added, “We’re ahead of the region, we’re ahead of the market and we’re ahead of the national averages.”
Freed predicts that jewelry and luxury brands will see the most year-over-year sales improvement this year, as higher-income households put the uncertainty of the elections behind them and regain their confidence in spending.
Three stores at Galleria Dallas — Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic — joined the growing number of retailers open on Thanksgiving day. More than 30 stores were scheduled to open at midnight on Black Friday.
Bill covers health care, law and education.
- Most popular
- Bank of America will cut more than 150 jobs in North Texas
- Shares of AMR Corp's old stock value takes off with new American
- AT&T lowers family plan prices for 2nd time
- Crosstex Energy becomes Enlink Midstream, merges with Devon
- Chuck E. Cheese owner eyeing bid for Dave & Buster's
- Allen Eagle stadium may need partial demolition to correct cracks,
- Ex-Penney CEO Ron Johnson got no severance when he left
- Mark Cuban: all business but fun
- Car plows through SXSW crowd killing 2, injuring 23
- The Fresh Market announces third DFW store opening
- Account Executive Dallas Business Journal | Dallas, TX
- President/CEO Cristo Rey Dallas College Preparatory School | Dallas, TX
- Survey Agent Monitronics | Dallas, TX
- Dealer Support Helpdesk Analyst Monitronics | Dallas, TX
- Call Center Sales Representative-(Winback) Monitronics | Dallas, TX


text:
New car sales fall 2.9pc in December
Sales of new motor vehicles in Australia fell 2.9 per cent in December, official data shows.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said new vehicle sales fell to 84,403 units in December, seasonally adjusted, compared to 86,948 units in November.
In the year to December new motor vehicle sales fell 3.0 per cent, seasonally adjusted.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails


text:
Chief executive of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey both took the stand recently as part of the ongoing trial led by Bethesda parent company ZeniMax.
As reported by The New York Times, Zuckerberg denied accusations that Oculus stole technology from ZeniMax, and claimed "Oculus products are built on Oculus technology."
“The idea that Oculus products are based on someone else’s technology is just wrong,” said Zuckerberg.
When questioned by ZeniMax's lawyers about his response to the lawsuit, Zuckerberg said that such occurrences were common around "big deals."
“it is pretty common when you announce a big deal or do something that all kinds of people just kind of come out of the woodwork and claim that they just own some portion of the deal," said Zuckerberg. "Like most people in the court, I’ve never even heard of ZeniMax before.”
Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey also took the stand, to dispute accusations that he had broken an NDA regarding proprietary information owned by ZeniMax. As reported by Polygon, Luckey and ZeniMax's representation got heated when trying to determine what "specifically fell under the banner of proprietary information and what didn’t." ZeniMax claimed the Doom BFG Edition demo and Rage VR testbed were both subject to the NDA, while Luckey's defence argued that both pieces of software had entered the public domain, thus negating that part of the NDA.
In order to ascertain Luckey's technical prowess in the face of doubts he could have created Oculus Rift single-handedly, his defence also painted a picture of his lifelong interest in tech, including the fact he built his first VR prototype headset in August 2010.
The ZeniMax case against Oculus was originally filed in 2014, and updated in August 2016 to include Oculus chief technology officer and id Software co-founder John Carmack and CEO Brendan Iribe as defendants. ZeniMax accused Oculus - and Oculus' owner Facebook - of stealing vital parts of the technology that went into creating the Rift, made possible by dodgy dealings during John Carmack's move from Bethesda subsidiary id to Oculus.
Zenimax issued a statement the day before Zuckerberg testified in court.
Lucy O'Brien is an editor at IGN’s Sydney office. Follow her ramblings on Twitter.


text:
Jio AirFiber launching on September 19: Check out the details
Jio AirFiber will be launched on September 19, which coincides with the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.
What is Jio AirFiber?
Jio AirFiber is a wireless internet service that uses 5G technology to provide high-speed internet connectivity.
When was it announced?
Jio AirFiber service was announced at the 45th AGM of Reliance Industries Limited last year.
Jio AirFiber speed
Jio AirFiber offers up to 1.5 Gbps with true 5G, ensuring fast and reliable Wi-Fi coverage. It supports Wi-Fi 6 technology as well.
Jio AirFiber Price
The price of Jio AirFiber has yet to be revealed. However, reports suggest it may cost 20% less than its rival, Airtel Xstream AirFiber, which costs Rs 799 monthly.
Jio AirFiber Installation
The setup is user-friendly, with plug-and-play functionality for easy creation of Wi-Fi hotspots.
Jio AirFiber will give users parental control tools to manage and restrict network content access.
Integration with Jio STB
Jio Fiber and set-top box will be integrated for combined internet and TV viewing.
The Jio AirFiber can be managed through a mobile application.
Jio AirFiber users can block websites and devices for a secure and personalized online experience.
Jio Fiber vs Jio AirFiber
Jio Fiber uses fibre optic cables but is only available in some places. Jio AirFiber uses a wireless network and connects directly to Jio towers.


text:
By: Branka Prodanovic
Islamic veiling is a global political issue and the debate tends to move in two different directions: it’s framed as either a matter of the freedom of female self-expression or as emblematic of gender inequality and suppression. Its role as a fashion statement is rarely discussed.
Read the rest of this entry →
Posted in NEWS
Tags: Allah, article, bloggers, branka prodanovic, Clothing, create, debate, decades, designer, development, different, directions, fashion, fashion bloggers, freedom, gender, global, grown, islam, islamic, islamic fashion, islamic regions, islamic veiling, issue, matter, middle eastern, modest, modest women, muslim women, muslimah, news, political, read, reported, role, self expression, statement, suppression, tends, the conversation, vogue, women, world


text:
IS ORGANIC FOOD REALLY SAFER AND HEALTHIER?
September 20, 2004
Americans spent $10.4 billion on organic foods last year, but several studies are questioning the assumption that organic foods are safer and healthier than conventional foods.
A recent survey indicated that two out of three consumers choose organic foods because they support "better health," but two recent symposia (the American Chemical Society and the First World Congress on Organic Food) have concluded that evidence is lacking to support the claimed superior benefits of organic foods. Furthermore,
- A report by the Texas Department of Agriculture indicates that conventional produce was eight times more likely to have pesticide residue than organic, but of the few samples in which a residue was found, the amount was negligible (between 1 and 5 percent of government standards).
- Because organic farmers rely on cow and pig manure for fertilizer, organic foods are vulnerable to bacterial contamination -- two recent outbreaks of E-coli involved organic strawberries and lettuce.
- Free-range birds (organic poultry) have higher rates of bacterial contamination than conventional poultry due to their higher exposure to wild bird droppings.
Moreover, a study by the American Council on Science and Health reveals that organic produce does not have significantly higher vitamin contents than conventional produce. A comparison of organically and conventionally grown vegetables revealed that a higher vitamin C content for the organic vegetables, but only by about 10 percent of the recommended daily intake, which can be compensated for when adding fruits.
What is important, say observers, is that consumers make fruits, vegetables and dairy products a part of their diet, and they should not feel guilty if they can't afford more expensive organic foods.
Source: Melissa Healy, "Behind the Organic Label," Los Angeles Times, September 6, 2004; Nancy McGuire, "Assessing Organic Food," American Chemical Society, August 30, 2004; and Mary Wilson, "First World Congress on Organic Food: Meeting the Challenges of Safety and Quality for Fruits, Vegetables and Grains," Michigan State University, National Food Safety and Toxology Center, March 29-31, 2004.
Browse more articles on Environment Issues


text:
TJX Companies, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors had raised the amount of its quarterly dividend by 13 percent from the last dividend paid.
The Board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.3325 per share, payable June 1, to shareholders of record on May 11.
Ernie Herrman, CEO and president of TJX Companies, Inc., stated, “I am pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has approved a 13 percent increase in our quarterly dividend. This marks our 26th dividend increase over the last 27 years. Over this period, the company’s dividend has grown at a compound annual rate of 20 percent. In addition, we plan to continue our significant share buyback program, with approximately $2.0 to $2.5 billion of repurchases planned for Fiscal 2024. These actions underscore our confidence in our ability to continue delivering strong sales, profitability, and cash flow, which allows us to simultaneously reinvest in the growth of the business and return significant value to our shareholders.”
TJX Companies’ portfolio includes:
- 1,299 T.J. Maxx stores, 1,183 Marshalls, 894 HomeGoods stores, 78 Sierra, and 46 Homesense stores, as well as tjmaxx.com, marshalls.com, homegoods.com, and sierra.com, in the United States;
- 297 Winners, 151 HomeSense, and 106 Marshalls stores in Canada;
- 629 T.K. Maxx and 78 Homesense stores, as well as tkmaxx.com, in Europe; and
- 74 T.K. Maxx stores in Australia.


text:
Entries for November 2010
November 16, 2010
Have you ever asked yourself, "How's the market in my neighborhood? I've read all the headlines, but what's happening in my neighborhood right now?" OR "What kind of home can I afford and in what area of town is it located?"
We have the answers! Intracoastal Realty has real-time market trend data and statistics for Wilmington, NC and the surroun...
November 10, 2010
To help consumers navigate the process of buying a home, the department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Association of REALTORS have collaborated on three how-to videos. Here is the first video, "Shopping for Your Home".
November 08, 2010
Island of Lights - Friday, November 26th will be the lighting of the lake celebration the day after Thanksgiving.
Christmas By the Sea will start on Nov. 26th and be held for the next 4 Saturdays until December 18th.
Pleasure Island Fresh Market November 6—December 18th Due to the overwhelming success of the Carolina Beach Farmers Market this p...


text:
For one day only, OzHarvest is teaming up with Uber and celebrity chefs around Australia to bring you lunch on demand, delivered straight to your door. You can get a Burger Project Corned Beef Burger with corned beef, pickles, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and secret sauce for $12 delivered to you anywhere in the CBD. All proceeds will go to OzHarvest.
OzHarvest founder Ronni Khan hopes the initiative will help provide another 50,000 meals to Australians in need. “Some of our best chefs have agreed to help us raise awareness and do something fun,” she says. “So today, if you order lunch through Uber, you’ll get a Neil Perry burger delivered.”
There are less than 200 meals for delivery in each city, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. It’s currently a one-off event, but if demand is high, Khan says OzHarvest might go to other chefs in future.
She also offers tips on how to minimise food wastage. “Right now, people can go online to pledge that they’re going to change their behaviour, then we’ll send them hints about how they can do that.”
She suggests making a shopping list and being mindful when shopping for fruit and veg. “When there’s a two-for-one special, sometimes it’s not cheaper if it means you’re throwing away more food. You’re not saving money and you’re certainly not helping the world.”
How to order:
- Open your Uber app between 12pm and 2pm anywhere in Sydney’s CBD
- Request the HARVEST option in the slider at the bottom of the app
- Meet your driver curbside and they’ll deliver you a delicious and nutritious lunch from Neil Perry.
Delivery only available in Sydney’s CBD. Only 200 meals available – be quick. One lunch delivered per request. $12 will automatically be charged to your registered card upon delivery.